Back from surgery consult

Turned out to be a 4 hour consultation.  We saw the dietician, therapist, nurse practitioner than Dr. Metz himself.  He ordered an abdominal ultrasound, which I did at about 1:30pm.  Went for Middle Eastern food with my girl afterwards...

Pre-op appointment is scheduled for December 2, 2010, surgery date is December 14, 2010...the day AFTER my last day of class for fall semester.  Wonderful staff and surgeon, beautiful office and hospital. 

Any suggestions for my pre-op liquid diet?  Three days of chicken broth just doesn't seem palatable...

Congrats on making past this major hurdle!! Great news.

My doc had me start the pre-op diet 2 weeks before surgery. It was really not that specific and I was basically told to keep my in-take under 1000 calories and drink at least 64 oz of water per day. Was also told to cut out all soda and "try" to stop the coffee. Soda was no problem but I've cut down (not yet eliminated) coffee.

My routine has been a Slim Fast shake for breakfast (made with a banana, ice, low fat milk, and a couple spoons of yogart). For lunch I have a Lunchable meal (i.e. the deli meat and cheese slices) or another protein shake. At dinner I have a small salad with low fat dressing.

I'm finally up to 64 oz of water per day. But, the first few days it really had me going to the bathroom a lot. Also found that my "urge" to go was much less when I stopped drinking ice water and switched to room temperature water.

The pre-op diet is a pain in the #$%^. But, it has helped me realize "head hunger" vs real hunger. I'm learning not to graze or eat snacks all day. Good practice for my up-coming post-op diet.

Best of luck and keep us informed of your progress.

I am still floored at how fast everything is going.  If I weren't in school this semster and deliberately waiting for the end of the semester, I would have just done it THIS month....they had that option available!!!

I am not too scared right now, but I know come surgery day, I will be terrified b/c I have a hard time with general anesthesia.  Not adverse reactions, but I wake up in a panic attack and screaming.  Not cool.  Luckily, my surgeon has not lost a SINGLE patient and their complication rate is less than 0.5%.  I was relieved to hear that ;)

Hey Leza,
Congrats on getting the surgery date. I hear ya on the anasthesia. I have had surgeries before my WLS but had watched a stupid "scary" roommate with my partner at the time and was then terrified I was going to wake up during surgery. But everything went fine, they gave me a little something before the anasthesia to calm me down and it went great. I too would wake up screaming and crying and whatever combination of meds they used was obviously right because for the first time I had no complications from anastehsia. I am sure they will be able to do the same for you.

Pre-op diet...I did chicken broth, low sugar whipped lemon yogurt, sugar free pudding, and crystal light or water. I also recomend trying the protein shakes. I vowed to never drink another chocolate protein shake as long as I live lol. But the surgery is so worth it. I can't believe how much and how quickly I got my life back. If I had all the knowledge I have now and had to decide whether or not to have the surgery again..I would say yes in a heartbeat. By far the best decision in my life. GOOD LUCK!!!

Congrats Leza!
  I was told broth, sf popsicles, water, coffee, tea, etc.. but only the day before. I realize every surgeon is different, hang in there! I'm really excited for you!

Woo Hoo! 12/14 is right around the corner!!!

I didn't have to do a liquid diet, before, but afterward protein shakes- esp the Isopure ones, were my best friend!

Good Luck!!

:Danni

Danni and Wendy,

Thanks!!  I appreciate the support :)

Danni--does the Isopure come in unflavored?  The nutritionist at the surgeon's office said there was a "clear" protein powder they recommend, but didn't give me the name of it.

Interesting tidbit from the surgeon.  My girlfriend is a smoker (who actually announced the day before my consult that she was quitting) and Dr. Metz told her that studies have shown that gastric bypass patients who are exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke, even on clothing, hair or the residue left on the inside of walls/car, etc. tend to be the ones to develop ulcers in the new stomach.  Doing my own research before meeting my surgeon, I had heard that and something about women who have subsequent babies after WLS....the post op babies are 52% less likely to be obese than their older siblings who were born prior to surgery.  Unfortunately, I think my twin girls are overweight.  They are 4 and both weigh close to 55 pounds (wearing a size 7/8).  I feel horrible about that.

Nope, the RTD or Ready to Drink ones come in all sorts of yummy flavors. Not everyone likes them but I drank them pre and post opp and still do!

I really love the orange and grape flavors- why do you want an unflavored one?

Interesting info about the babies, and good luck to your partner with quitting smoking- it's not easy (I quit in '03) but she can do it!

I was considering using the unflavored ones to add protein to my broths (I have organic chicken, veggie and beef that I normally use as a base for certain meals I make from scratch).  Since I'm having surgery at a time of the year that is VERY cold here in Denver, I know I'm gonna want hot stuff.  My biggest beverage weakness is COFFEE.  I have a Keurig coffee maker and the nutritionist told me I will have to cut out coffee.  I know at least at first.  No problems cutting out the diet sodas.  They give me headaches now anyway.

I was also thinking about using the protein powders with my sugar free Torani syrups (yeah...coffee fanatic here).  Chocolate protein + S.F. coffee syrup + SF. caramel syrup = the closest I'll get to a caramel mocha on my new stomach, lol.

Did anyone have problems with coming off coffee.  I know when I was on Byetta, which has side effects that tend to mimic dumping, coffee would make me wanna ralph.  Don't know if I will feel the same way after Roux en Y.

Erin actually quit smoking in 1997 and started back up last year when she was stressed over the IRS taking money from her after her mother filed her taxes incorrectly in 1997.  She tells me she quit cold turkey then and will do the same now.  Just said she'd be kinda *****y.  I told her that it'll just be paybacks for when I'm coming off carbs...lol.

LOL! Yeah I'm not so sweet when I don't get my carb fix either!

Early on I used Unjury protein powder, they have an unflavored one, and a chicken soup one- but like everything else...you may or may not like it...

As for the coffee, just go decaf- I started decaf, switched to caff, but now I'm back on decaf cuz I don't want the calcium leeched from my bones!!! Oh and if you like creamers they make S.F. ones and I put S.F. almond milk in mine...yummo!